Collapsible box



D. B. HARTMAN COLLAPSIBLE BOX Filed Sept.

March 29, 1949.

INVENTOR DON BRUCE HARTMAA/ Patented Mar. 29, 1949 COLLAPSIBLE BOX DonBruce Hartman, Memphis, Tenn., assignor, by mesne assignments, toOwens-Illinois Glass Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of OhioApplication September 30, 1947, Serial No. 776,925- 8 Claims. (Cl.229-34) This invention relates to collapsible boxes of that type inwhich a blank is cut out and folded and interlocked to form the box.

It particularly relates to small open top boxes such as are used for thepackaging of berries and small fruits.

The objects of the invention are:

To provide a simple and efiicient box formed from a single fiat blankfolded and interlocked;

To provide a blank which may be readily folded to accomplish such a box;

To provide a box blank which may be stored or shipped fiat, whichincludes interlocking parts and which may readily be folded into a box,in which the interlocking parts may form the sole means for securelyholding the box in shape;

To provide a box blank which may be die cut from a single sheet ofcardboard or other flexible sheet material and scored to promoteaccurate folding into box shape.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects are accomplished andthe manner of their accomplishment will readily be understood from thefollowing specification on reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the box with one flap unfolded.

Fig. 2 is an outline view of the box blank before folding; and

Fig. 3 an enlarged sectional view of the line IIIIII of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicatedby numerals:

The box comprises a rectangular bottom l2, opposite pairs ofre-pective1y similar sides l4 and l6 integral with the bottom andextending therefrom, and relatively shallow members 22 integrallyconnecting the sides adjacent their upper edges, the junction of thesides and bottom being creased to establish a fold line l2A, thejunction of the connecting members with the sides being creased toestablish fold lines 22A and the members being centrally creased orperforated to form additional fold lines 223.

One pair of opposite sides l4 have extending flap portions A, which arecreased along their junctions with the top of the sides to form foldlines MB. The flaps have portions conforming in length to the width ofthe sides adjacent their junctions therewith, the depth of theseconforming portions being substantially equal to. the depth of themember 22 at their junctions 22A with the sides. The flaps extend beyondsaid portions and therebeyond form ear portions I40, adapted to 2interlock beneath the members 22 when the blank is folded into a box.

The sides l6 may also have flap portions IEA creased to form fold lines[6B along their junctions with the sides, these flap portions, ifprovided, forming top edge finishes and stifleners for the sides l6.

In forming the blank, substantially. triangular openings 24 are cut outwith their apices against the corners of the bottom l2, the sides 24A ofthe openings forming the lateral edges of the sides material, said boxincluding a rectangular botl4 and I8, and the bases of the-openingsforming the inner or under edges 22D of the connecting members 22 withwhich the ears HlC are to be engaged. Preferably the apices 26C of theopening are rounded. Exteriorly the blank is cut away along the outersides of the members 22 along lines extending substantially at rightangles to their junction with the sides l4 and I6.

Preferably the fold lines I2A along the bottom lie outward slightlybeyond the true apices of the corner cut outs 24, and the member creases22A are similarly spaced laterally beyond the sides to establish slotlike openings 26 atthe corners of the box. y In forming boxes from theblanks, the sides It and I6 are folded upward from the bottom with thecorner members 22 inward and against the sides M. The flap portions ofthe sides are folded inward and downward, with the flap portions A ofthe sides l4 overlying and holding the corner members 22 against thesides 14 and the ear portions MB of these flaps are engaged in thecorner slots 26 of the box beneath the lower edges of the corner members22, to hold the flap portions MB.

in position and efiect completion of the box. Preferably the flaps A areof depth to fully cover and hide the corner members in the finished box.

It will be understood that while the box is shown as square it may asreadily have one pair of sides longer than the other pair.

It will be further understood that the box sides may be rectangular asdistinguished from the flaring sides shown and may vary in depthrelatively to their width or length as desired, and depending perhaps onthe thickness and stiffness of the material used that the boxes may beof such size as is desired.

Obviously also the flap portions of the sides 16 may be extended andused to form a cover for the box.

I-claim:

1. A box, formed of a single sheet of flexible tom, sides extendingupward therefrom, and corner members adjacent the upper edges of saidsides connecting the lateral edges of said sides. said lateral edgesbeing free below said corner members, one pair of said sides oppositelydisposed, having flaps substantially co-extensive in length with saidsides, said flaps being of greater depth than said corner members, andhaving ear portions spaced the depth of said corner members from thetops of said sides and extending laterally and oppositely therebeyond,said corner members being inwardly folded against said flap carryingsides, and said flaps being folded inwardly and downwardly over saidcomer members, with said ear portions extended between the free edgeportions of adjacent sides below said corner members.

2. A box, formed of a single sheet of flexible material, said boxincluding a rectangular bottom, sides extending upward therefrom, andcorner members adjacent the upper edges of said sides connecting thelateral edges of said sides. said lateral edges being free below saidcorner members, one pair of said sides oppositely disposed, having flapssubstantially co-extensive in length with said sides, said flaps beingof greater depth thansaid corner members, and each having ear portionsspaced the depth of said corner members from the tops of said sides, andextending laterally and oppositely beyond said sides,

said comer members being centrally scored and the junction edges of saidflaps, sides, bottom and corner members with adjacent parts, beingscored to define fold lines, said sides being upwardly folded, saidcorner members being inwardly folded against the flap carrying saidsides, and said flaps being folded inwardly and downwardly over saidcorner members, with said ear portions extended between the free edgeportions of adjacent sides below said corner members.

3. A box, formed of a single sheet of flexible material, said boxincluding a square bottom, sides extending upward therefrom, andinwardly folded corner members adjacent the upper edges of said sidesconnecting the upper portions only of the lateral edges of said sides,one pair of said sides oppositely disposed, having beyond theirupper,edges flaps substantially co-extensive in length with said sides,each said flap having ear portions extending laterally and oppositelybeyond said sides, said corner members being cut out below said upperportions to establish free edge portions along said lateral edges, said.corner members being inwardly folded against said flap carrying sides,and said flaps being iolded inwardly and downwardly over said cornermem- 4. said corner members being centrally scored, and the scored linesat the junction of said sides and comer members being spaced outwardfrom the bers, with said ear portions engaged through said cut outs andbetween free edge portions of adjacent'sides in locking relation withsaid corner members. a I g 4. A box, formed of a single sheet "orflexible material, and including a bottom, sides, and cor-- ner membersconnecting the lateral edges of saidsides adjacent their upper edgesonly, said lat-' eral edges being otherwise free,-said corner memedgesof said side portions, corner members, each ner members.

lateral edges of said sides to establish, below said members, cornerslots between the free portions of the lateral edges of said sides, saidsides being upwardly folded, said corner members being inwardly foldedagainst said flap carrying sides, said flaps being folded inwardly anddownwardly over said corner members, and said ears engaged through saidslots beneath said corner members.

5. A box, formed of a single sheet of flexible material, said boxincluding a rectangular bottom, and relatively foldable sidesrespectively integral with the four edges of said bottom, fold ablecorner members of less depth than said sides connecting the lateraledgesof said sides adjacent their upper edges, said lateral edges beingfree below said corner members, said sides having along their upperedges co-extensive foldable flap portions, one pair of said sidesoppositely corner members with adjacent parts being scored 4 toestablish fold lines, said sides being upwardly folded, said cornermembers being inwardly folded against said flap carrying sides, saidflaps being folded inwardly and downwardly over said corner members,with said ears extended between the free edge portions of proximate sideedges below said corner members.

6. A foldable box, formed from a single sheet of flexible material andcomprising a bottom, side walls and corner members joining the upperportions of adjacent lateral edges of the side walls, said lateral edgesbeing otherwise free, two 0pposite said side walls being provided alongtheir respective upper edges, each with a flap portion, said cornermembers extending downward from the upper edges-of said side wallsalesser distance than the width of said flaps, and being inwardlyfoldable against said flap carrying walls, said flap portion beinginwardly and downwardly foldable over inwardly folded said cornermembers and, below said corner members, having ear portions extendingbeyond thelateral edges of adjacent said sides between the free portionsthereof and into interlocking 7. A, container blank, adapted to befolded to form a container, which comprises a bottom portion, aplurality of side portions hingedly connected respectively along oneedge to the edges of said: bottom, a like plurality of flap portionshingedly connected respectively to the opposite corner member beinghingedly connected at its opbars being of less depth than said sides,said sides having along their upper edges co-extensive flaps, 1

one pair of said flaps oppositely disposed beingof greater depth thansaid corner members, and

having ear portions extending laterally and oppositely therefrom, saidear portions being spaced the depth of said corner members from the topsof said sides, the junction edges of said flaps, sides, bottom and comermembers with adjacent arts being scored to formfold lines,

. posite ends to the portions of adjacent lateral edges ,of said sideportions remote from said bottom, said corner members-extending alongsaid lateral edges, toward said bottom, a, minor portion of the lengthof said lateral edges, said lateral edges being freethroughout the majorportion of their lengths between said'corner members and said bottom, toestablish at each comer of said blank a substantially triangular openingbounded by twoof said free edge portions and the proximate edge of asaid corner member, and means for retaining said. blank in containerform when folded.

engagement with said cor- 8. A container blank, adapted to be folded toform a container, which comprises a quadrilateral bottom portion, aplurality of side portions hingedly connected respectively along oneedge to the edges of said bottom, a like plurality of flap portionshingedly connected respectively to the opposite edges of said sideportions, corner members, each corner member being hingedly connected atits opposite ends to the portions of adjacent lateral edges of saidside'portions remote from said bottom, said corner members extending aminor portion of the length of said lateral edges along said lateraledges toward said bottom, said lateral edges being free throughout themajor portion of their lengths between said corner members and saidbottom, to establish ateach corner of said blank a substantiallytriangular opening bounded by two'oi said free edge portions and theproximate, edge of a said corner member, two of said flap' portionsoppositely disposed being provided with ears spaced from the 6connection of said flaps to the related sides and laterally extendingbeyond the lateral edges of the side portions to which the ear carryingflaps are connected, they said ear carrying flaps being of a, depth inexcessof the depth of said corner members, folding of said blankcompressing .said openings to form thereof substantially verticallydisposed slots between adjacent free edge portions, said ears beinginserted therein to retain said blank in folded form.

DON BRUCE HARTMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the me ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Scholes Sept. 3, 1929

